During story time last night, Brooke was looking at the back flap of a Bereinstein's Bear book cover. It has images of all of the other book titles. Last night we read a book on telling the truth. We have another Bereinstein Bear book on watching too much tv. Brooke was deeply studying each teeny tiny image of all the different books and asking me all kinds of questions -- mostly starting with "WHY?" (well...she IS four yrs old...). Then she came to the book titled, "The Bad Habit" and she asked me: "What the name of this book?" and I said, "The Bad Habit". She then asked, "Why The Bad Have It?" I answered, "because that's the title of the book".  She moved on to other book images and titles...but I kept thinking...

It was such a cute wording mistake. I said "habit" she heard "have it".  --but at the same time it was so PROFOUND. What else is a "bad habit" other than a "bad have it". When we have bad habits...they are usually activities in which we've just told ourselves we MUST have it or do it (thereby "having it"). Let's look at some examples:

1. Spending too much money - that's a "bad have it". As in I must "have it" NOW -or- "have it" ALL
2. Bitiing your nails - that's a "bad have it". As in an obsessive "have it". Who knows why...but I must "have it".
3. Drinking too much soda - that's a "bad have it". As in I know it's not good for me, but I must "have it" anyway.
4. Saying mean things about people - that's a "bad have it". As in I must "have it" be that I am superior to others.
5. Procrastination - that's a "bad have it" too - as in I must "have it" my way!

You see!? Brilliant! From now on I will be thinking of all "bad habits" as "bad have its". "Bad Habits" almost sounds cute. "Bad Have It" is a much more realistic and less savory way to say it. I am more moved to alter a "bad have it" than I am a "bad habit".  What are your "bad have its"?